Gary Payne is entering his second season as the head coach of the beach volleyball program as well as his ninth season as the assistant coach for the indoor volleyball program at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Javelinas won 18 games in Payne's first season as head coach. Headlined by winning the 2024 Silver Bracket at the AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships. Payne has been on the coaching staff for beach volleyball since its inception in 2016, and helped the team claim the 2018 AVCA Small College National Championship.
Payne has also served as a key piece to the indoor volleyball coaching staff, helping the Javelinas compile 150 wins and reach two NCAA Division II tournament (2016, 2023). He also coached four all-Americans in Lexi Wick (2016), Madison Brabham (2018), Nicole Murff (2022) and Ayanna Jackson (2022, 2023) as well as 13 first team all-conference selections for the Lone Star Conference
Prior to coming to the Javelinas, Payne was the volunteer assistant at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and coach of the Nebraska Gold Volleyball Club. He also has experience with the River Valley Volleyball Club and was the head coach at McCook Community College from August 2006-January 2008.
A 2001 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Payne earned his masters of art in education in August 2010. Payne is a veteran who served for the United States Army.
